Why is it that every device has a camera?

[Sarah]

I remember 5 years ago when almost no device had a camera, nowadays almost every device has a camera the Xbox One, and Wii U have a camera, the 3DS has a camera. All laptops have a camera even the cheapo 200$ ones have camera's, all tablets have camera's! Now there adding camera's on TV, I think is very scary! The only device that has an excuse is phones because if you want to film something fast a phone is good. Is the world becoming 1984 where there's no such thing as privacy?
I know this is tinfoil hat but look around you!, everything has a camera!

[Rebecca]

It's mostly for media, like quick access to being able to post your pictures on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

[Dusty]

Look around. There are 4 cameras at most red lights and a dozen more within the block. NSA isn't the only ones keeping an eye on you. Even your friends shoot you and may or may not post you someware or at some future time. Mayhap you need a bigger foil hat, with eye holes cut in it, or just don't go out in day time and whear a hoody at night.

[ScσττRΛSC³]

Well technically neither the Xbox One or Wii U have cameras. They are included.

The cameras of course are for the owner/user to use as necessary, not to spy on people. Simple as that.

[Brian M.]

A wise man once said "We live in exponential times."

Five six or seven years ago we were unable to put cameras on anything other than cameras themselves. I bought my first Nikon in 2007, a humongous, $700, 6.1 megapixel DSLR which was barely able to take decent pictures. Nowadays, lens technology and sensor technology allow your iPhone to have twice as good a camera on the back of your phone.

The government is likely not going to do it to spy on you. And if they are, so what? What do you have to hide from the government? Are you afraid the handful of people in charge of our nations' security can see you watching television on your couch? They're doing it to deter terrorism, not to intrude on innocent people.

Everything is more accessible than it was 20, 30, or forty years ago and for that we must be thankful. We must also be reasonable and responsible. Cameras are great if you like to record your memories and save history, but its up to you to feel secure around them.